Will garner new fans: "Miramar Bay" by Davis Bunn

about the book....

In the tender, heartwarming tradition of Nicholas Sparks, this compelling novel of two strangers in a small coastal town marks a romantic tour de force for internationally bestselling author Davis Bunn.

He had not come all this way just to break another woman's heart.

When Connor Larkin boards a late night bus in downtown LA, he's not sure where he's going or for what he's looking. Putting his acting career and his fiancee on hold, he's searching for something he can't define, a part of himself he lost on the road to success. Once he dreamed of being a singer in the classic style of Sinatra and Bennett. But his lean good looks soon landed him in movies as the sexy bad guy and in the arms of a famous young heiress. Now, with his wedding day approaching, Connor finds himself stepping into the sleepy seaside town of Miramar Bay where one remarkable woman inspires him to rethink all of his choices.

She needed to know his secrets, and to see if he'd tell her the truth.

Sylvie Cassick is nothing like the pretentious starlets back in Hollywood. The daughter of a nomadic painter, she's had to work hard for everything unlike Connor's fiancee. When Connor hears familiar music drifting out of Sylvie's restaurant, he feels as if he's finally come home. Sylvie isn't sure what to think when this impossibly handsome stranger applies for a waiter's job. Yet once he serenades her customers and slowly works his way into her heart she realizes there's more to him than he's letting on. And Connor realizes he's found his destiny.

But as the outside world encroaches, threatening their fragile bond, Connor will have to risk losing everything to gain the life he longs for, and be the man Sylvie deserves.

Filled with bittersweet longing, Miramar Bay is an unforgettable journey through doubt and desire to the truth that can be discovered along the road less taken.

my review...

Starring a cast of likeable characters and a dramatic, emotive plot that will hold your attention from beginning to end, "Miramar Bay" will no doubt draw new fans to the talented pen of Davis Bunn. This is a story of second chances and new beginnings, and I enjoyed journeying along with Connor as he takes a good, hard look at his life and has to decide what really matters. Bunn does a masterful job at unfolding Connor's transformation, and you can't help but root him on as he seeks to chart a new course for himself. At first I found myself thinking that he was a bit too perfect with his good looks and his incredible acting talent. But as Connor makes mistakes and shows some humility in taking ownership for his actions, I found him that much more easy to relate to.

Fans who enjoy a good romance are going to surely enjoy watching the scenes between Connor and Sylvie. I particularly appreciated that the romance unfolds in a unique way, not a result of flowers and walks along the beach, but as Connor rising up to do what needs to be done to advocate for Sylvie when she finds herself at the centre of a conspiracy threatening everything she holds dear. I think the one aspect that would have made this story all the richer would have been a greater emphasis on the spiritual. Though the scenes of reconciliation that occur in this story are beautiful to behold, they are lacking the supernatural, spiritual involvement that often brings Bunn's novels to the next level. Nevertheless, I can appreciate that he is writing for a different audience with "Miramar Bay", and this moving story will speak to readers on many levels.

I look forward to seeing what next lies in store for the people of Miramar Bay. I award this book a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

An egalley has been provided courtesy of the publisher and netgalley for the purposes of this unbiased review.

about the author....

Davis Bunn is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers with sales totaling more than seven million copies. His work has been published in 20 languages, and his critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. Davis also writes fantasy under the pseudonym Thomas Locke (tlocke.com). He and his wife, Isabella, divide their time between England and Florida. Learn more at www.davisbunn.com.

I'm a follower of Jesus, a husband to the most amazing wife in the world, and dad to 3 awesome children...and did I mention that I love to read? I enjoy reviewing books on my blog (Christian Fiction Addiction) and connecting to other readers at Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and Goodreads!